I'd like to feel that whatever I play is a result of whatever I've heard.

Many people do think it's naive to improvise in front of paying customers. I'm not saying one way is better than another.

I listen to classical music very much. There's a lot of jazz that I don't enjoy listening to.

I understood that if I wanted to work, the saxophone was the main instrument. The clarinet was what we call a double.

Most jazz players work out their solos, at least to the extent that they have a very specific vocabulary.

After playing now for 60 years, it's still very challenging for me to play a simple melody and have it clean and touch the reed at the proper time in the proper way.

A first love always occupies a special place.